Relatives of the pilot would very much like to hear from other relatives of the crew and are very keen to obtain further photographs of the crew or aircraft - please contact us in the first instance.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off from RAF Melbourne in Yorkshire at 19:17 hrs together with 18 others from the squadron to join 678 aircraft comprising of 312 Lancasters, 231 Halifaxes, 111 Stirlings, 24 Wellingtons and 5 B-17’s. In total - 47 aircraft were lost, 38 over en-route to or from the target with a further nine crash landing in England.

Over the course of the Second World War the city of Hanover and environs were targeted 88 times. The city itself, being an important road and rail logistical centre, received heavy damage and by the end of hostilities 90% had been destroyed and over 6,000 inhabitants killed.

Around the city were clustered numerous industries producing weaponry and other supporting materials for the war effort.

Left: Pilot, Sgt. Alfred Rostron (courtesy Tracy Jones)

At Stöcken to the north lay the AFA works producing batteries for submarines. On the east side a major oil refinery at Misburg and to the west the MNH tank factory at Badenstedt, the Hanomag military vehicle plant at Linden and the Continental rubber factory at Limmer.

According to RAF reports after the raid, the Pathfinders had used incorrect wind forecasts which blew the target markers away from the city centre. Reconnaissance photographs taken after the raid showed that the majority of the bombs fell in a concentrated area consisting of villages and open country some five miles to the north.

21 Lancasters and 6 Mosquitoes of No 8 Group carried out a diversionary raid on Brunswick which was successful in drawing off some night fighters. 218 people were killed in Brunswick - 51 Germans and 167 foreigners. 1 Lancaster lost.

9 Mosquitoes on another diversion to Emden, 5 Mosquitoes on Oboe tests to Aachen (3 were successful), 19 aircraft minelaying in the Kattegat and the Frisian Islands, 4 OTU sorties. No losses.

No details as to how this aircraft was lost - although thought to have been a victim of the Luftwaffe night fighters, no positive claims have been discovered. Understood to have crashed in the area of Wippingen, where the crew were initially buried.